The Guided Path mode allows a Delegated Project Administrator to switch a project from one scheme to another. The types of schemes supported are:

Issue Type Schemes, which indicate which Issue Types can be used on a project's issues
Field Configuration Schemes, which define the fields available on a project's issues and the behavior of those fields (e.g., whether each is optional or required, whether each is hidden or visible, and what options are available in dropdown (aka "Select") lists).
Screen Schemes (aka Issue Type Screen Schemes), which indicates which Screens are used to create, view or edit each Issue Type used within a project
Notification Schemes, which defines who is notified when certain changes or events occur on an issue.
Permission Schemes, which defines who can perform various activity on the project and its issues.
Workflow Schemes, which define the lifecycle of issues in the project.

A JIRA Administrator chooses the desired delegation for each of these types of schemes, including:

Allowing no delegation (i.e. no schemes of that type are selectable)
Allowing all existing schemes of that type to be selectable
Allowing all existing schemes of that type – except for specific ones – to be selectable
Allowing only specific schemes of that type to be selectable

The JIRA Administrator then chooses which Project Administrators can perform various delegated activities in Guided Path mode. For instance, some Delegated Project Administrators may be able to work with Notification Schemes while others may be able to work with each of the supported schemes.

To switch a project from one scheme to another, the Delegated Project Administrator can click the icon in the sidebar of the Project screen to open the Delegated Project Admin screen, click the tab corresponding to the type of scheme to change, and then click the Select Different Scheme button. A list of available schemes is shown based on what the JIRA Administrator indicated to allow, and the Delegated Project Administrator can select the one that should be applied to the project.

By default, a project will be in Guided Path mode, unless the ability to enter Self-Service mode has been granted and a Delegated Project Administrator with appropriate delegated capability has opted to enter Self-Service mode.

It is important to note that the mode (Guided Path or Self-Service) is based on the project, while the capabilities of a Delegated Project Administrator while in that mode is based on how the JIRA Administrator has configured the delegation for that individual or the groups to which s/he belongs. The project stays in its mode (Guided Path, by default) until someone deliberately changes it to a different mode. It is possible for a Delegated Project Administrator to be unable to do some things or perhaps anything at all in a project if s/he was not delegated any capability pertinent to that mode.

Frequently Asked Questions - 2.0

Why are 2 modes of operation supported?

What is "Guided Path"?

What is "Self Service"?

What is a Process Template?